Heel-breasting machine.



No. 880,868. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.

A. D. ELLIOTT, DEOD. M. E. ELLIOTT, EXEOUTRIX.

HEEL BREASTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 24, 1905.

VViTfVASZS; I I v UNITED STA ArEn'r FFIQE.

MARY E. ELLIOTT, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, EXECUTRIX OF ALVIN D. ELLIOTT, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HEEL-BREASTING MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 24, 1905- Serial No. 251.799-

No. 880,868. Patented March 3, 1908.

erence characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to heel-breasting machines, and more particularly to machines for breasting heels of the class hereinafter referred to.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes it is frequently desired to provide a heel of a boot or shoe with a breast face which, viewed laterally of the h" hall present a curved contour. For example, in the production of boots or shoes having Louis or French heels, it is commonly desired that the breast face, in side elevation, shall curve inwardly to a considerable degree. The present invention is concerned more particularly with the production of a machine adapted to breast a heel to a contour of this general form.

According to the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, a knife is employed having a contour in cross section corresponding to the lateral contour desired to be given the breast face,and means for supporting a boot or shoe in operative relation to the knife and with the side of its heel supported against the cut of the knife which is forced through the heel from side to side. The supporting means for the boot or shoe is preferably of a construction adapted to permit the work to be held in place thereon by the operator, so that its position may be manually controlled.

A convenient form of supporting comprises a rest for supporting the side of a heel against the cut of the knife, a tread rest against which the top lift of the heel is held, and a shank rest which is positioned to bear on the shank part of the boot or shoe. The construction is preferably such that the two former rests are yieldingly held towards the shank rest, so that when the work is presented to the machine the two said rests may automatically assume a position with relation to the shank rest suitable for the height of heel to be breasted.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away, of a heel-breasting machine with one embodiment of the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of a part of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line as a: of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, is shown one embodiment of the invention applied to a heel-breasting machine of the general type of that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 437 ,665, granted September 30, 1890, to Ross. In the machine shown in that patent a Work support is actuated to force the stock against a knife, but it will be obvious that the invention is applicable as well to machines in which relative movement of a knife and work support is obtained by movement of the knife itself. In the machine herein shown, a frame 2 carries a shaft 4 provided with a tool head 6, the shaft being rotatably supported in the frame 2, and clamped in fixed position by a wheel 8 ed portion of said shaft. A curved knife 9 is removably clamped in the tool head 6, the curvature of the knife in cross section being shown in Fig. 3. The knife 9 is preferably of a width greater than the extreme height of heel to be breasted.

A spindle 10 is arranged to slide vertically in bearings in the frame 2, and is adapted to be forced upwardly by a treadle 12 as indicated in Fig. 1. The spindle 10 is provided at its upper end with a removable head 14. The upper end of the head 14 has an extension 16 provided with a longitudinal groove to receive a dove tail projection on a plate 18. A set screw 17 may be used for clamping the plate 18 in fixed position on the extension 16. The plate 18 is provided with a groove arranged transversely and adapted to receive a dove tail projection 20 on a work support 22.

The work support 22 sustains on its upper side a plurality of rests adapted to be engaged by a heel. A rest 24, which may be of wood, is arranged longitudinally of the work on a screw threadsupport 22 and is removably clamped to said to conform to the shape ofthe side of a heel. That end of the rest 24 which lies in the path of the knife may be given a shape substantially the same as a transverse section of the knife 9, so that said knife may pass freely by the upper face of said rest 24, after breasting a heel from side to side.

A tread rest 28 is held upon the work support 22, by a bolt 30, entering a slot in said rest 28, the slot permitting adjustment of the rest transversely of the work support. The tread rest 28 is provided with a vertical plate 31 adapted to be engaged. by the tread face of a heel upon the rest 24. As will appear from Fig. 2, the acting portion of the rest 28 that isengaged by the tread face of a heel is parallel with the path which the knife 9 takes relatively to the work support as the latter is moved vertically, so that by holding the work against said rest 28, the path of the knife through the heel is maintained in a parallel relation to the tread face or top lift of the heel. A gage 32 is secured to the end of plate 31, as by screws 34 passing through slots in said gage and entering said plate, the slots permitting adjustment of the gage transversely of the work support. As shown in Fig. 2, the gage 32 is provided. with a beveled outer edge. The gage 32 serves as an index and rest for the breast edge of the top lift of a heel, facilitating the initial positioning of a heel in proper relation to the knife 9, and also aiding in'sustaining a heel against displacement by the knife 9 in the act of breasting.

The work support 22 is preferably freely movable transversely of the plate 18, so that said support may be shifted to bring a heel into correct position with relation to the knife 9. A stop 35 may be employed to limit movement of the support 22 on the plate 18. There is provided means tending to hold the work support to the left in Fig. 2, comprising springs 36, inserted in bores 38 in the support 22, and bearing on a plate 40 removably attached to plate 18.

A collar 42 is adjustably held on the head 14, as by a set screw 43, and is provided with a slotted extension 44 adapted to receive the stem of a shank rest 46, said stem being secured in fixedposition upon said extension by a nut 48. The shank rest 46 has an acting portion 50 adapted to be engaged by the ihank part of a boot or shoe, as indicated in A toe rest 52 carried by the work support 22 may be provided. This toe rest may be used to aid in positioning and holding the work upon the work su port.

Where a considera le change in the height of heels is made, the plate 18 maybe adjusted on the eXtension 16 of the head, so that when the parts 'are in operative position with a boot or shoe in place with its heel in position to be breasted, the beveled edge of the gage 32 will be approximately in line with a portion of the edge of the knife, as indicated in Fig. 3. It will be seen that such an arrangement of the parts insures that the knife will breast the heel from the shank of the boot or shoe to the top lift. Change in the height of heel to be breasted may also occasion the substitution for the rest 24 of a rest of different contour, and adjustment of the tread rest 30 transversely upon the work support 22.

In the preferred mode of operation of the machine, a boot or shoe is held by the operator with the tread face of its heel in contact with the plate 31, the breast edge of its top lift held against the gage 32, and the side of the heel supported by the Wooden rest 24. The work support 22 is then moved inwardly against the resistance of springs 36 until the shank of the boot or shoe engages the shank rest 46. It will be seen that according to this mode of operation the position of the shank of the boot or shoe relative to the knife will be substantially the same regardless of variations in height of the heel to be breasted, and such variations, therefore, will occasion no liability of injury to the shank of a boot or shoe by reason of its lying in the path of the knife in the operation of the machine. 95

Having fully described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a heel-breasting machine, the com bination with a knife curved in transverse section, and means for carrying said knife, of a work support constructed and arranged to support a heel of a boot or shoe'on its side against the cut of the knife, means for moving relatively said knife and work support, and a rest positioned to bear on the shank part of the boot or shoe.

2. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with a knife, of a work support constructed and arranged to support a heel of a boot or shoe on its side against the cut of the knife, means for moving the work support and knife relatively in a path substantially parallel with the tread face of the heel, and means permitting relative movement of the knife and work support in a direction transverse to said path.

3. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with a knife, of a work support constructed and arranged to support a heel of a boot or shoe on its side against the cut of the knife, means for moving relatively the knife and work support in a path substantially parallel with the tread face of the heel, means permitting relative movement of the knife and work support in a direction transverse to said path, and a rest positioned to bear on the shank part of the boot or shoe.

4. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with a knife, of a work support tread rest having an acting face substantially parallel With the path of the knife, a gage for positioning the breast edge of the top lift of a heel, and a rest for supporting the heel against the cut of the knife, and means for moving relatively said knife and Work supolt. P 5. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination 'With a Work support comprising means for sustaining a heel of a boot or shoe on its side against the cut of a knife and a rest arranged to bear on the tread face of the heel, of means for positioning the shank part of the boot or shoe, and means for sustaining said Work support movably With relation to the shank positioning means to permit heels differing in height to be placed in operative position upon said support.

6. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination with a knife, of a Work support comprising means for sustaining the side of a heel of a boot or shoe against the cut of the knife and a rest arranged to receive upon it the tread face of the heel, means for imparting a relative actuating movement to Work sup-- port and knife, means permitting movement of the Work support in a direction approXi mately perpendicular to the plane of the tread rest, a rest positioned to bear on the shank part of the boot or shoe, and means for resisting movement of the Work support away from the shank rest.

7. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination With a knife, of a Work support comprising means for sustaining a heel of a boot or shoe on its side against the cut of the knife, and a rest arranged to receive upon it the tread face of the heel, means for moving the Work support relatively to the kniie in a path substantially parallel With said tread face, means permitting movement of the Work support in a direction transverse to said path, and means tending to hold the Work support at a predetermined point in the path of its transverse movement.

8. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination With a knife, curved in cross section, of a Work support having a breasting move ment relatively to the knife and comprising a tread rest constructed to receive upon an acting face approximately the entire area of the tread face of a heel, said rest being arranged with said acting face substantially parallel 'With the direction of relative movement of Work support and knife, and a rest for sustaining a heel against the cut of the knife, and means for moving relatively said knife and Work support.

9. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination With a knife curved in cross section and having a Width greater than the height of heel to be breasted, of a Work support comprising means for sustaining the side of a heel of a boot or shoe against the cut of the knife and a rest arranged to receive upon it the tread face of the heel, means for imparting a relative actuating movement to Work support and knife, means permitting movement of the Work support in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane of the tread rest, and means permitting adjustment of the Work support in a direction substantially parallel With the plane of said rest.

10. In a heel-breasting machine, the combination With a knife, of a Work support constructed to support a boot or shoe normally out 01 operative alinement with the knife and movable to bring the heel of the boot or shoe into line With said knife, a rest arranged to limit said movement of said Work support by engagement With the sole of the boot or shoe at a point in advance of the heel, and means for moving relatively said knife and Work support to breast the heel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MARY E. ELLIOTT, Emecutrim 0f the estate of Almln D. Elliott,

deceased.

Witnesses:

THOMAS IJUND, THoMAs BEVINGTON. I

Czrreetlon in Letters Patent No. 880,868.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 880,868, granted March 3, 1908, upon the application of Mary E. Elliott, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, Executrix of Alvin D. Elliott, deceased, for an improvement in Heel-Breasting Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 41, page 1, after the Word supporting the Word means should be inserted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of March, A. 1)., 1908.

o. o. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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